Abstract: A method of thermal and power control in a computing device includes, at the computing device, initializing a thermal module of the computing device, receiving data at the thermal module from a first component assigned to an interface of the thermal module, and sending an output to a second component from the thermal module based on the data. Initializing the thermal module includes detecting a presence of a plurality of potential components of the computing device; querying each of the plurality of potential components to determine capabilities of each component; in response to the querying, for each of at least a subset of the plurality of potential components receiving identification information for the component and, based on the received identification information, configuring one or more interfaces of the plurality of predefined interfaces of the thermal module to establish communication with the sub set of components.

Abstract: A method of thermal and power control in a computing device includes, at the computing device, initializing a thermal module of the computing device, receiving data at the thermal module from a first component assigned to an interface of the thermal module, and sending an output to a second component from the thermal module based on the data. Initializing the thermal module includes detecting a presence of a plurality of potential components of the computing device; querying each of the plurality of potential components to determine capabilities of each component; in response to the querying, for each of at least a subset of the plurality of potential components receiving identification information for the component and, based on the received identification information, configuring one or more interfaces of the plurality of predefined interfaces of the thermal module to establish communication with the sub set of components.

Abstract: A computing device is provided, including a battery, a processor configured to receive electrical power from the battery via a voltage regulator, and one or more additional electronic components configured to receive electrical power from the battery. The computing device may further include a first current detector configured to detect a total battery discharge current. The voltage regulator may be configured to receive a first analog current signal from the first current detector, convert the first analog current signal into first digital current data, and transmit the first digital current data to the processor. The processor may be further configured to determine a difference between the total battery discharge current and an available electric current limit for the battery. In response to at least determining the difference, the processor may be further configured to adjust one or more performance parameters of the processor such that the difference is reduced.

Abstract: A method of thermal and power control in a computing device includes, at the computing device, initializing a thermal module of the computing device, receiving data at the thermal module from a first component assigned to an interface of the thermal module, and sending an output to a second component from the thermal module based on the data. Initializing the thermal module includes detecting a presence of a plurality of potential components of the computing device; querying each of the plurality of potential components to determine capabilities of each component; in response to the querying, for each of at least a subset of the plurality of potential components receiving identification information for the component and, based on the received identification information, configuring one or more interfaces of the plurality of predefined interfaces of the thermal module to establish communication with the subset of components.

Abstract: The described technology provides an apparatus including a power supply unit (PSU) and a PSU control system stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processor units, the PSU control system encoding computer-executable instructions on the memory for executing on the one or more processor units a computer process, the computer process including receiving internal temperatures of the PSU over a duration of time, determining multiple exponential weighted moving average (EWMAs) of the internal temperature of the PSU for the duration of time, comparing the EWMA with a temperature threshold associated with the duration of time, and based at least in part on determining that EWMA exceeds the temperature threshold associated with the duration of time, limiting the output power of a charger using a charger current limit input to the charger.

Abstract: A thermal management system for a computing device often includes one or more internal heat pipes and conductive structures to move heat from one or more heat-generating components within the computing device to a heat exchanger. For an air-cooled device, one or more exhaust fans blow air across the heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heat exchanger to the air before it is exhausted out of the computing device. While operation of the exhaust fans may be necessary to maintain device temperature below one or more thresholds, exhaust fan operation may be optimized to maximize the user experience. The presently disclosed technology applies distinct exhaust fan speed and/or direction profiles for each of one or more exhaust fans within the computing device to maximize the user experience, particularly to reduce or avoid blowing hot air at the user's hand.

Abstract: A method of adaptively controlling the distribution of power supplied by a charger of an electronic device between an energy storage device and one or more hardware elements is provided. The method includes determining whether current communicated between the charger of the electronic device and the energy storage device satisfies a charging condition, the charging condition based on one or more of a direction of the current communicated and a magnitude of the current communicated, determining whether consumed system power consumed by the hardware elements satisfies a system power condition based on a determined system power limit, and adjusting power consumption of the one or more hardware elements of the electronic device to consume a different consumed system power within a predefined range of system power limits, based at least in part on satisfaction of the charging condition and satisfaction of the power supply condition.

Abstract: The described technology provides an apparatus including a power supply unit (PSU) and a PSU control system stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processor units, the PSU control system encoding computer-executable instructions on the memory for executing on the one or more processor units a computer process, the computer process including receiving internal temperatures of the PSU over a duration of time, determining multiple exponential weighted moving average (EWMAs) of the internal temperature of the PSU for the duration of time, comparing the EWMA with a temperature threshold associated with the duration of time, and based at least in part on determining that EWMA exceeds the temperature threshold associated with the duration of time, limiting the output power of a charger using a charger current limit input to the charger.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to allocating power to peripheral device interfaces. One example provides, at a computing device, a method, comprising obtaining a measurement of power consumption by one or more peripheral devices, and based at least on the measurement and on a maximum power tolerance of a power source, allocating to each respective interface a minimum portion of power output from the power source. The method further comprises rendering a remainder of the maximum power tolerance available for consumption by one or more processors, the remainder including the maximum power tolerance minus a sum of the minimum portions, where the remainder and a system portion of power output are available for consumption by the one or more processors, and where a performance attribute of the one or more processors is not throttled while total power consumption does not exceed a threshold power output from the power source.

Abstract: A computing device is provided, including a battery, a processor configured to receive electrical power from the battery via a voltage regulator, and one or more additional electronic components configured to receive electrical power from the battery. The computing device may further include a first current detector configured to detect a total battery discharge current. The voltage regulator may be configured to receive a first analog current signal from the first current detector, convert the first analog current signal into first digital current data, and transmit the first digital current data to the processor. The processor may be further configured to determine a difference between the total battery discharge current and an available electric current limit for the battery. In response to at least determining the difference, the processor may be further configured to adjust one or more performance parameters of the processor such that the difference is reduced.

Abstract: A computing device includes a cooling device and a cooling activity monitor configured to assess a cooling activity of the cooling device. A cooling activity reporter is configured to, based at least in part on the cooling activity of the cooling device crossing a predefined cooling activity threshold, communicate a cooling activity indication to a resource manager of the computing device.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to allocating power to peripheral device interfaces. One example provides, at a computing device, a method, comprising obtaining a measurement of power consumption by one or more peripheral devices, and based at least on the measurement and on a maximum power tolerance of a power source, allocating to each respective interface a minimum portion of power output from the power source. The method further comprises rendering a remainder of the maximum power tolerance available for consumption by one or more processors, the remainder including the maximum power tolerance minus a sum of the minimum portions, where the remainder and a system portion of power output are available for consumption by the one or more processors, and where a performance attribute of the one or more processors is not throttled while total power consumption does not exceed a threshold power output from the power source.

Abstract: A dynamic peak power management system may prevent brownouts while improving performance and user experience compared to conventional techniques. A current threshold may be set below the maximum current capability (Imax) of a battery. If the current drawn from the battery exceeds the current threshold repeatedly, then system components may be throttled to decrease their peak power usage. If the current drawn from the battery stays below the current threshold for some time, then system components may be unthrottled to improve performance. This dynamic adaptable technique for managing peak power does not unnecessarily sacrifice performance by preemptively throttling system components to avoid the rare worst-case scenario where power spikes of system components perfectly align in time.

Abstract: A method for improved electronic device performance provides for sampling a power consumption parameter for a device throughout a time interval in which an increased load transient is observed and for dynamically calculating one or more exponential weighted moving averages (EWMAs) based on the power consumption parameter responsive to each sampling. The method further provides for increasing a maximum discharge rate of the battery to a discharge rate limit associated with a select maximum level of multiple predefined discharge rate levels and then incrementally decreasing the maximum discharge rate of the battery from the discharge rate limit of the select maximum level to one or more lower discharge rate limits associated with progressively lower levels of the multiple predefined discharge rate levels.

Abstract: A method of thermal and power control in a computing device includes, at the computing device, initializing a thermal module of the computing device, receiving data at the thermal module from a first component assigned to an interface of the thermal module, and sending an output to a second component from the thermal module based on the data. Initializing the thermal module includes detecting a presence of a plurality of potential components of the computing device; querying each of the plurality of potential components to determine capabilities of each component; in response to the querying, for each of at least a subset of the plurality of potential components receiving identification information for the component and, based on the received identification information, configuring one or more interfaces of the plurality of predefined interfaces of the thermal module to establish communication with the subset of components.

Abstract: Cooling of an electronic device is described herein. A sensor located at a first position determines a temperature at the first position. A processor identifies a fan speed of a fan positioned within the electronic device. The processor identifies a correlation between at least the determined temperature at the first position and the identified fan speed of the fan, and a temperature at a second position. The processor calculates an expected temperature at the second position using the identified correlation based on the determined temperature at the first position and the identified fan speed of the fan. The processor compares the calculated expected temperature at the second position to a predetermined temperature for the second position. The processor controls, based on the comparison, at least one component of the electronic device when the calculated expected temperature at the second position is greater than the predetermined temperature for the second position.

Abstract: Thermal management systems are described herein. A thermal management system includes components of a computing device. The computing device includes a heat generating component and a heat spreader physically connected to the heat generating component. The heat spreader includes a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is closer to the heat generating component than the first surface is to the heat generating component. The computing device also includes a layer of phase change material on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or the first surface and the second surface of the heat spreader.

Abstract: Cooling of an electronic device is described herein. A sensor located at a first position determines a temperature at the first position. A processor identifies a fan speed of a fan positioned within the electronic device. The processor identifies a correlation between at least the determined temperature at the first position and the identified fan speed of the fan, and a temperature at a second position. The processor calculates an expected temperature at the second position using the identified correlation based on the determined temperature at the first position and the identified fan speed of the fan. The processor compares the calculated expected temperature at the second position to a predetermined temperature for the second position. The processor controls, based on the comparison, at least one component of the electronic device when the calculated expected temperature at the second position is greater than the predetermined temperature for the second position.

Abstract: Cooling of an electronic device is described herein. A sensor of the electronic device is located at a first position and is associated with a second position. The sensor determines a temperature at the first position. A processor in communication with the sensor calculates a relative temperature for the second position based on the determined temperature at the first position. The processor determines an expected temperature at the second position based on the calculated relative temperature for the second position. The determined expected temperature at the second position is compared to a predetermined temperature for the second position. At least one component of the electronic device is controlled when the determined expected temperature for the second position is greater than the predetermined temperature for the second position.

Abstract: Thermal management systems are described herein. A thermal management system includes components of a computing device. The computing device includes a heat generating component and a heat spreader physically connected to the heat generating component. The heat spreader includes a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is closer to the heat generating component than the first surface is to the heat generating component. The computing device also includes a layer of phase change material on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or the first surface and the second surface of the heat spreader.